Speech #530144376

A dispatch from the United States embassy at Berlin. dated the 9th Instant. of which a copy Is subJoined. transmits an apparently authoritative denial by a semioffcia?Germnan newspaper. of the truth of an item printed in the London Times on the 8th instant. to the effect that the German Government had protested against the sugar schedule then before the Senate. and had given an intimation that if a duty against bountypaying countries was imposed. Germany wouid retaliate against American products. On the 17th of May last. in a personal conference. the Gautemalan minister at this capital represented to the undersigned that. under the reciprocity arrangement (by him called a treaty) of December 30. 1891. between the United States and Guatemala large sums hadhbeen invested by his countrymen in machinery for the product ion of sugar. with a view to and enjoying the benefits of the American markets. that this large outlay would not have been incurred had it been enpposed the Government of the United States contemplated this early andment of the reciprocity arrangement and the imposition of a tax upon Guatemalan sugar. that the ability of Guatemala to produce sugar had already been demonstrated: that the bill before Congress involved a discrimination against Guatemala in that it provided for the free admission of Hawaiian sugar produced by cooly or contract labor. and that financial ruin would befall the Guatemalan sugar producers should the bill become a law and the sugar of that country be made dutiable. The undersigned replied that the reciprocity arrangement was not a treaty: that it In no wise restricted the right or power of either government to modify Its tariff laws. that the understanding was entered into to remain in force so long as it shall not be modified or revoked by the legislation of either government. or by the .mutual agreement of the executive power of the two countries. and that without replying to his remarks as to the unfairness of the proposed admission of Hawaiian sugar. free. while taxing that of other countries. our commercial treaty with Hawaii possibly suggested the proposed discrimination. On the 14th of May last the Spanish minister addressed the undersigned referring to the probable necessity of raising larger revenues in Cuba and Puerto Rico by levying increased customs duties on peninsular and foreign products. and inquired whether. in the event of such increase. the Governneent of the United States would levy duties upon the p reductions of those islands. now free under the reciprocity arrangement.